Prior to Pensacola High's "Battle For Ye' Olde Wash Boiler" vs. Escambia, the Tigers were treated to a guest appearance from one of PHS' notable alumni.

Webbie Burnett, who graduated from PHS in 1985 as a two-time all-american linebacker before playing in the NFL, was in a strikingly similar situation as this year's Tigers when he was in high school.

Both the 1985 and the 2015 Tigers were out of playoff contention by the time the Escambia game rolled around.

And both Tigers teams were challenged with stopping an explosive Escambia back. In 1985 it was Emmitt Smith, and 30 years later the Tigers had their hands full with Jabir Frye.

"I was in a pretty bad car accident a few days before that game," said Burnett, who played college football at the University of Florida and Western Kentucky before joining the New Orleans Saints. "I broke my wrist, and the doctor told me not to play. Escambia started spreading the word that I wasn't really hurt and I used it as an excuse to not play.

The Tigers beat Escambia that year and it was Escambia's only loss between the two rivals during Smith's time in high school.

While Burnett's team came out on top in the "Battle for Ye' Olde Wash Boiler," this year's Tigers suffered a 17-6 loss.

But it's safe to say Burnett's words will inspire the Tigers to come back stronger next year.

"I had a few flashbacks speaking to (this years PHS football team)," Burnett said. "They've gotta remember to play for pride. (Against Smith) we weren't going to be denied. Our defense stepped it up. We all played like one heart beat of a Tiger."

Burnett wrapped up his football career with a decade of play in arena football and moved on to defensive coordinator and head coaching duties in the AFL.

Mincy wraps up first season as Tigers’ head coach

Following their 17-6 loss to Escambia on Friday, the Pensacola High Tigers (4-6 overall) are officially done for the season.

“You know, as PHS standards go, (former head coach Mike) Bennett left us a high bar,” said Mike Mincy, in his first season as coach of the Tigers. “As PHS standards go it’s not really where we want to be win-wise but, I’ve got to say, at the end of the day when you look at it, the effort that our kids brought out here every week … they did such a great job.

“It wasn’t the way we wanted to go out but man, they’ve really grown as young men and our coaching staff really did a great job. Our administration really pushes that at Pensacola High School you have to be a special young man, a special young student to go there and our kids represent that really well.”

For Mincy, a former assistant coach at Pensacola High from 2008-13, the season marked a return home following a brief coaching tenure at Nease.

“I wish we had another week to go and a playoff game, but it feels really good,” Mincy said. “PHS is home. I’ve got PHS sand in my shoes.

“We’ll start next week getting ready for next year and I think we’re on the upside right now, I really do. Next year there will be a lot of good things out of PHS football.”